The awareness campaign which comprises giving passengers roses comes in the wake of Union minister Gopinath Munde’s death in a car accident

With Union Minister Gopinath Munde’s death in a car crash bring to the fore the issue of road safety, the Western India Automobile Association (WIAA) has decided to undertake a campaign to promote wearing seat belts even while sitting in the backseat. The drive, which will begin on Monday in areas such as Churchgate and Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus among others, is supported by the transport and traffic departments.

Nitin Dossa, president, WIAA, said, “If Mundeji had worn a seat belt, his life could have been saved. So to inculcate this habit among other people, we are educating them to strap on the seat belt even while sitting in back of a car. We will not force the public, but will give them roses and explain them the importance of wearing the seat belts.”

The joint commissioner of traffic and the transport commissioner will kick off the campaign. Officials from the traffic department said they chose the south Mumbai locations to kick-start the campaign because it is a hub for motorists.

In European and other western countries like the US, it is compulsory for passengers sitting in the rear to fasten their seat belts. According to statistics from the traffic department, more than 1.4 lakh people have died and over 26 lakh people were injured in 2012 owing to the violation of traffic rules.